How Would You Like to See This Club Change?

[Gman]

Seeing as the general issue was raised by BadShot in another thread, how would you like to see this "community" change? Let's not hint at subjects or vaguely reference other members. If you would like to influence some change, I'd recommend being specific.

I am just one of the members here and can't make a single leadership decision, but I've also had an uneasy feeling since we've had fellow members run into some legal issues. By posting this, I'm hoping that we can keep it constructive.

[Ridge]

Well I think it'd be nice if we were a bit more active (I.E. shoots, info sessions etc like we had planned) but that is certainly up to the members, and we are all on hard economic times and its more expensive to shoot now than in the past...

But perhaps we could still get together and have small courses or something so we can all learn procedures and practices to help us...

[Gman]

I can certainly understand the financial and time limitations. I now have the time but am still limited financially. The last shoot I went to ended up being an over $200 day with fuel and ammo. When times are tough, the hobbies drop down the priority list.

I think it would be pretty cool to go through a training class with the guys here as long as it's not too physically demanding. It's taken me years to get this out of shape and it's going to take more than a couple of weeks to get back in shape.

[HunterCO]

The last two shoots I straped my guns to my Harley to save on gas what does that tell you about my financial situation.

Times are hard right now. If anybody has any ideas chime in we will never all agree on everything but we can at least find some common ground and compromise on a solution.

[Delphi]

Maybee we can get a sponsorship from some large ammo manufacturer?

[Gman]

That would be nice, but companies are also doing some belt-tightening.

[WillysWagon]

I'm still shooting .223 & 7.62x39 I bought when it was $100 a case of 1000. Ammo prices have made me slow down a bunch on plinking. Not to mention I'm selling my home and moving into a smaller place, so not much free time for this guy. How did I collect all this 'stuff'

[BulletBill]

I'd try to get a larger user base.

One I'd drop the ar-15 from colorado ar-15 shooters from and just make it colorado shooters.

Two I'd make a section for each type of major interest i.e.; AR-15, Pistol, Scatter gun, etc with a for sale section in each to keep everything clean.

Three I'd have a section for the various ranges to post their information and host sub-forums for their membership (for a fee of course). A place where the ranges can post meeting info, range members can discuss range issues or events etc.

Of course this is all just ramblings off the top of a newbs head.

[BadShot]

Again, there are models out there to look at and pick and pull the best from.

AR15.COM = tons of great general weapons data.. iffy' community.
LightFighter.net = Well divided and managed content wise. You don't post stuff that is rant like in a review forum there. It gets moved and you receive a warning. BUT there are portions of the site that are Adult, not baby sat or censured (too often).

I know the "mods" are volunteers but there should be a effort commitment to seek out "sponsors" perse. E.G. the ranges across the state. Efforts to keep all of the forum sponsors engaged and not just sucking down storage space.

Things like active communication with the range owners, shop owners ect.. to find out what we can better do to engage them. What do they like/dislike about the site? How can we get them to sponsor charity events.

We should be engaging in fund raisers for the shooting community. Engage with folks like USMC03 (Jeff) and Zak Smith to help sponsor the events they put on, or even better get them to help coordinate the charitable efforts we as a community should be engaging in.

Membership should be strongly encouraged and funded to improve the site and allow for incentives. Hell if the mechanism were better, I'd pay an annual fee for greater access to the site and other bonus features, were they actually available and maintained. Site advertisement should be pushed really hard. Things like business cards placed at every gun store and range in the state! Yeah it'll cost us a little bit in money and effort, but that is how you get things going.

Also to directly disagree with comment made elsewhere.. controversy does drive hits and site exploration. That's Inter-web psychology 101.

One of my big concerns (and this seems to have spurred Greg into starting this) is that we are increasingly either censuring posts and topics or we are feeling increasingly censured. There are valid concerns about CBI and other local and state LE monitoring. We've had events occur with active members that would logically increase their monitoring and crawling of this site. Honestly, what you choose to post is your own burden. Yeah the site would and can be compelled to provide information, but that is a whole other matter and perhaps should be reitterated via the site membership disclaimer and responsibilities component.

What I worry about is folks feeling like this is a community that does not welcome diverging opinions or tollerate them. We have done so with some members for years, but it seems to me that we as a community are becoming increasingly paranoid and closed minded. I for one find the site less and less valuable every time an "incident" occurs. But hey, I'm not paying for anything right?

I think paid member area's would help with some of that simply because it offers access control. Don't get me started on what I believe that should look like, nor what the cost to the site would be, but I'd be willing to offer those opinions from a professional perspective privately.

Hope that was what you were looking for Greg.. everyone else can as always take my opinion for what it is.. my not ever so humble opinion.

PS - another thought would be a minimum post count to participate in the for sales area.. we've talked about it before, but I think something like a 30-50 post min. should be enacted.. paid memberships should still be held to that as well.

[Gman]

Precisely. Thanks!